Whoopie!

Click on the pic. to see the recipe on tasteofhome.com

I'm going to try these very soon. They look like something that my hubby can really appreciate.

New Blog

click on the logo to check it out!

I created a blog to advertise my fundraising baking. All earnings go to my "Adopt A Baby" fund.

Chai Snickerdoodles

I'm bringing them to you even as I'm finishing them up. I couldn't wait to share because they are sooooo good! The original recipe comes from here. I modified it to fit what I thought would be good and had on hand.

Bethanie's Chai Snickerdoodles

• 2 C Sugar
• 1 1/2 T Chai latte mix
• 1 t. cinnamon
• 1/2 C Butter
• 2 Eggs
• 1 1/2 t. Vanilla
• 2 3/4 C Flour
• 1/4 t. Salt
• 2 t. Cream of tarter
• 1 t. Baking soda

In a large bowl combine sugar and chai mix. Reserve 1/2 C mixture. Add butter to original large bowl and cream. Add eggs one at a time. Add vanilla. In a medium bowl combine flour and other dry ingredients. Add dry to cream. Roll 1 inch balls, roll in reserved sugar, and place 2 inches apart on greased sheet. 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes. Cool on sheet for 3-5 min. Finish cooling on rack.

They are Divine! Chewy and crunchy at the same time. I think they would be wonderful for a tea party. I'm sure I will have some with my tea for breakfast in the morning.

* I have to confess that I never measure cinnamon. I just sprinkle some in. My measurement listed is just a guess.

Now, I have to finish up some bread by hand because somebody unplugged my bread maker to charge up his cell phone. I was so thankful that it hadn't made it to the bake cycle yet.

I did some baking yesterday...

I did some baking yesterday. I volunteered to take some treats to the Wednesday night kid classes tonight. The pictures are mine.

These are Fruit Filled Oatmeal Bars. I found them on There is no place like home blog.

Ms. Kelli has many good recipes and craft ideas. The bars are really easy and very good.

I added cinnamon to the crumb mixture (I just love cinnamon in everything) and

I used strawberry pie filling instead of jam.

Below is my own No Bake Peanut Butter Cookies.

Bethanie's No Bake Peanut Butter Cookies

• 1/4c brown sugar
• 1/4c granulated sugar
• 1/2c light corn syrup
• 3/4c peanut butter
• 1t vanilla
• 2c rice krispies

Combine sugars and syrup in a medium sauce pan. Stir until incorporated. Cook on low heat until boiling. (I cook just until I see bubbles over the whole surface. It will start to bubble around the edges and they work their way to the middle) Remove from heat. Quickly stir in peanut butter, vanilla, & cereal. Quickly drop onto waxed paper with a spoon. Cool for about an hour or until they are set and easily come off the paper. If you're going to stack them on a plate, put squares of waxed paper between layers, they will stick together and you'll have one huge cookie. I usually measure out the final three ingredients while the sugars and syrup are heating, that way I have them ready to add as soon as the mixture boils. You have to work fast because it all starts to set up as soon as you take it off the heat.

But, they are very good and really pretty easy once you've tried it.

Homemade Oatmeal Packets

This comes from Tammy's Recipes who got it from someone else. What a great idea. I was just wondering how we were going to be able to afford yet another box of oatmeal packets for my husband's breakfast. We are down to just 6 and he uses two packets at a time. As I was reading this I was like "Of course!" Really, when you weren't brought up on the "homemade" teachings it does not strike you as a possibility. I have oats at home that I buy for baking. Its going to be easy to mix them with some sugar, brown sugar, and cinnamon just like the packets he likes.

Layered Mocha Cheesecake

picture belongs to Taste of Home

click on the picture for recipe

My husband and I made this together last night. We presented it at Sunday lunch with my family for my sister-in-laws birthday. It was very good. The mocha layer was sort of puddingish, but that may have been due to something we did and not the recipe. It was rich, but not overly so. Also, we left off the glaze on top and used regular graham cracker crumbs. I would recommend it.

Recipe Swap & Mrs. U's candle give-away

I linked my pumpkin pancakes.

Check out Mrs. U's candle giveaway and her good news about adopting again.

Sour Cream Sugar Cookies

picture from taste of home

click on the pic for the recipe

I made these last weekend. They were pretty good, but the frosting was too much. Next time I'm going to half the recipe.

Up To

Heres what I've been up to:
Cleaning
Taking care of Little Miss
Learning to make Cheescake
Thinking about adoption- my husband and I have decided that we want an older baby/toddler (6mos.-18mos.)
Reading- I just finished 12 Steps To Becoming A More Organized Woman & A Family Raised On Sunshine - I reccomend both
Craving blogger
I'm enjoying being at home, but I miss being on-line everyday. Can't have it all. I'll be on-line as much as I can.

Fudge

This is a batch of fudge I made during the holidays. No the recipe isn't from Taste of Home, but I was excited about getting my holiday addition. I blogged about the recipe here.

Merry Christmas!

This is the last post I'll do before Christmas.
We've been so busy. We made almost all of our gifts. I've been baking and baking. Yesterday I tried that easy fudge recipe with white chocolate chips- and discovered that it doesn't work. You just never can tell unless you try. I'm making more cookies and hard candy this weekend. I'll post some recipes and maybe pictures after its all over with.
We finally had some snow and ice last weekend. It was the best snow we've had in a couple of years. They are saying we may have more, and maybe even a white Christmas. That would be nice.
While we are all in such wonderful Holiday spirit... don't forget those that are hurting. Its too bad that this time of year can cause so much pain for some. And it seems like trials come during the holidays. Also there are the many families that are separated because of the war. I don't mean to spoil your holiday cheer. I just wanted to remind you that this time of year isn't always great for everyone, and that we need to keep those people in our prayers.
And finally, I think I finally came to a conclusion on how I feel about the concept of Christmas. I've been searching for what God would have me know about Christmas for a couple of years now. Basically, I feel that Christmas is a man-made holiday. Its nice and all. All the decorations are beautiful around my home, and I love the excuse to bake myself into a coma. And I enjoy the emphasis on Jesus, and family. But, Jesus probably wasn't born on December 25th. No where in the Bible does God declare that we should designate one day a year to think of the birth of His Son. No, I think that event (like the death and Resurrection of Him) should be celebrated all year long. Its just too important to belong to just one day. So, I think, all the hoopla about "keeping Christ in Christmas" and santa is evil.... its all nonsense. The fact is that the holiday that occurs on December 25 was established by man, and should be celebrated in secular ways just like 4th of July is man made and celebrated as such. Its great to read of the Savior's birth on December 25th, just like its great to read it on April 17th. I hope this makes sense. I know what I mean anyway.

Finally...Fudge!

picture taken from recipe site

Last Thursday I copied off this recipe for fudge and hoped for the best. Fudge has given me such fits in the past. Its always been so complicated with the thermometers and all. But this recipe promised to be easy and good. And it was. The fudge turned out rich and Delicious. It was super easy too. I never use nuts, so there was only 3 ingredients involved and no instructions like, "Heat until hard ball stage" (whats up that mess?) No, I will never make fudge any other way again. The only thing was that I had to be patient twice. The melting process took about 20 minutes and then it has to chill for 2 hrs. But, still it was worth it not to have to fuss. Even better there was no mess. The foil peeled right off and the sauce pan cleaned up easily. I took my own picture, but forgot to bring my camera to work.

So, If your looking for an answer to your fudge problems- this is it.

Husel & Busel

picture from allposters.com

I'm not sure if I spelled the title right...hopefully you know what I mean.
I'm so busy. I've been baking like mad....cookies coming out of my ears. I just learned how to make hard candy this past weekend. My mom taught me. Does anyone have a good fudge recipe?
Little Miss was in a "baby dedication service" this last Sunday evening. We weren't able to go, but I know that her parents are dedicated to teaching her about the Lord. They already pray with her and sing her hymns. I'm excited about babysitting on the 17th, as her mommy goes back to work. I wish her mommy could stay home with her, but I'll be thrilled to keep her. I hope she never darkens the door of a daycare.
I've been thinking maybe I should take a blog break until after the holidays...but I'm absent so much the way it is. We'll see how much I can be here.

Tammy's Answers & New Blog Find

Here Tammy and her readers answer my questions about freezing baked goods. Some really good advice and tips.

New Blog Find Of The Week:

Seeking Faithfulness

New Blog Find of The Week & other

Your Sacred Calling

check out her post about bloggy gossip.

We had a nice Thanksgiving. I made french bread, which was going to be used for my mom's stuffing but we decided to eat it instead. Also, I made hashbrown casserole and a layered pumpkin pie. Little Miss had her first thanksgiving meal.... via her mommy. She is growing like a weed and shes soooo smart. Not that I'm biased or anything. Hopefully I'll have some new pics. to post soon. Her mommy told me yestarday that the doctor had been called concerning some constipation issues. I'm going to call and check on her tomarrow and wish her a happy month old Birthday.

Pumpkin Pancakes

Don't they look yummy. I was so thrilled just now that I finally got my picture to load up. Sadly, though, shortly after I realized I didn't bring my purse into the office with me. Which means I don't have the recipe with me.

I'll include the recipe next week I guess. But, I'll give you one hint: I made them with pumpkin pudding mix.

Finally the recipe:

My basic pancakes recipe

1 1/4 c flour

1 T. baking powder

1 T. sugar

1/2 t. salt

1 egg

1 c milk

2 T. oil

Mix dry ingredients. Beat egg, oil, and milk in another bowl. Add wet to dry, and mix with a wisk. Makes about 6 pancakes.

Pumpkin Pancakes recipe

add a box of pumpkin pudding mix and 1/4 t. of pumpkin pie spice to dry ingredients.

I always double or triple the pancake recipe and freeze them for future breakfasts and for my husband to take to work. With the pumpkin pancakes, if your only going to make the single recipe then I would only add half the pudding mix.

Other suggestions :

add half or whole bag of chocolate chips to batter to make Chocolate Pumpkin Pancakes.

Tammy's Italian Garlic Bread

picture is Tammy's

click on the picture for recipe

This was really good. It made a very pretty loaf.

leaves are changing......

finally! We went on a drive through the country yestarday and it finally looks like fall. Today it for sure feels like fall too.

I finally made it through my blog roll today. Yet again I'm all caught up on whats going on with everyone. I've been busy at work with the new preacher. Its nice to be busy. I've been really enjoying my days at home even more all the time. I'm really charishing them... and hoping that I get to continue this schedule.

My sister-in-law is still holding that precious little girl in. Yestarday we got a call, and rushed to the hospital. But, she wasn't in "active labor". She looked pretty active to me! I hate seeing her in such pain and discomfort-but I know it will be worth it. So, we're still waiting. The doctor says that if she doesn't come by Tuesday of next week, and s-i-l hasn't progressed anymore then he's going to induce.

We are all set for our party. I'm going to start getting the food prepared tomarrow. However, I'm not sure how many are actually coming. But, we'll have a good time anyway. Even if it ends up just being the two of us.

Hubby and I have been having a little fun. Remember I told you that he wrote me notes and hid them the other day. Well, I wrote him some. Then he wrote some more. And its been back and forth like a game. This morning I found one proped up against the toothbrush holder complimenting me on my smile. Now its my turn.

I made this bread this past weekend. It was pretty good, but I expected the filling to be more creamy than it was. Next time I have to figure out how to do that. Also I made pumpkin pancakes. I took pictures and I'll share them and the recipe next week.

Buttercup Yeast Bread

Click on the pic for the recipe

Doesn't this look good?! It was so attractive when I saw it in a Taste of Home magazine from last year. This weekend I came across some ripe Butternut squashes, and I just had to make this recipe. I had never worked with squash before. Imagine my surprise when it was so difficult to cut. When I finally got it cut up and seeded, I got to work trying to peel it. It was terribly hard. Then I cooked it in the microwave until it was soft-that was the easy part. I started to combine all the ingredients as it said. Then I got to the flour part. 13 cups! Who keeps enough flour for that?! I added what I had, and then added cake flour... all of it. Then I managed to come up with some bread flour. "This is never going to turn out", I thought to myself. But I had gotten that far I couldn't just throw it out. I didn't have a vehicle to drive to the store, and even if I did I didn't have any money. A good tip for baking is first to read through a recipe before starting to make sure you have everything you need, and second know when to quit. I turned it out on to my counter, and tried to kneed it. I kept adding more and more bread flour, trying to make it not sticky. Oh, what a mess I made. That dough stuck to everything but itself. Finally I managed to form it into a ball. It rose the first time. Then I divided some of it into the two pans I had and left it to rise again as the recipe instructed. Not long after my husband came home from work and he had some things to do. I was so fed up with that stuff, but I wanted to finish it. I decided that it would be fine while we were gone. We ended up staying out most of the afternoon and eating out. When we got home........... you experienced bakers can probably imagine what I found............. it was everywhere. It had risen out of the pans and dripped all over the place. The dough that I had left in the bowl had risen to about 4 times its size and it looked like a balloon. The worst part was the smell. It was a fermented stomach turning smell. I could smell it outside. I thought, "I bet the neighbors think we're making our own beer or something". I cleaned it up enough that I could rest easy. But, the dishes met me this morning with a grim foreboding. Unfortunately, they are still there. I just couldn't think of how I was going to even start to fix that mess this morning. Thus far, it is the worst kitchen disaster of my culinary career, and I've had many. Oh, all that precious flour- wasted. Live and Learn.

Stuffed Crust Pizza

I made stuffed crust pizza last night and it was pretty good. I went off of this recipe from Taste of Home. I used my own pizza crust recipe and just used pepperoni. It was pretty good.